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Can someone explain this Activity app inconsistency?

Sir Ruben

Sir Ruben

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jul 3, 2010
1,909
1,256
UK
Okay last night I walked from my house to the beach and back. Today I walked the exact same route only much faster than last night. However, as you can see in the shots below the distance is wildly different:

17833186933_83a9e16884_z.jpg
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Both times I had my iPhone with me.

I dont understand it. Also my calories are 231 for both even though I walked the second one much faster and with a much higher average heart rate.
 
Hmm. That seems weird to me, as well. Maybe you should contact Apple and see if they can explain it? I'm guessing the different distance explains the calories being different, but either way, there's definitely a problem.
 
anez said:
Hmm. That seems weird to me, as well. Maybe you should contact Apple and see if they can explain it? I'm guessing the different distance explains the calories being different, but either way, there's definitely a problem.
Click to expand...

Ive read that it learns your pace which may explain its mis-calculation as my pace was a lot quicker. However I thought the Apple Watch was a lot more sophisticated than that.

Also it reckons my calories are 231 for both with a completely different set of stats :/
 
I have same problem with running. Walking is ok for me. Difference of 0.05 km max. Runnig is complete off.
 
I walk the same route everyday, just over 1.25 miles and my figures in the exercise app are all over the place. The only thing consistent is the number of steps are with in a couple hundred steps and time within a couple of minutes. Heart rate, calories are wonkers.
 
Newtons Apple said:
I walk the same route everyday, just over 1.25 miles and my figures in the exercise app are all over the place. The only thing consistent is the number of steps are with in a couple hundred steps and time within a couple of minutes. Heart rate, calories are wonkers.
Click to expand...

This is not good, Ive been using it for runs previously and because I always take a slightly different route so I have never noticed before now. I may start going for the same walk each day and take a screenshot of the workout screen after each one and compare them over a week.

Hmmm I hope the exercise features aren't a novelty gimmick, I want them to at least be reasonably accurate or there is no point in using them. Its like someone telling you fibs every day and you just happily go along with it living a lie lol.
 
Sir Ruben said:
This is not good, Ive been using it for runs previously and because I always take a slightly different route so I have never noticed before now. I may start going for the same walk each day and take a screenshot of the workout screen after each one and compare them over a week.

Hmmm I hope the exercise features aren't a novelty gimmick, I want them to at least be reasonably accurate or there is no point in using them. Its like someone telling you fibs every day and you just happily go along with it living a lie lol.
Click to expand...


Apple should fix most of these little things with future updates.
 
It's weird because you took your iPhone with you. Without the phone I wouldn't be suprised, the watch alone has no idea about distance and pace.
Silly question, but are you sure bluetooth was turned on? In my experiences, with the phone the stats are accurate and without it complete bs (like yours).
 
Are you using another app on your phone which also uses GPS? I read here on MR that if you're using a tracking app on the phone the Watch will just guess at what you're doing.

If it had access to GPS there's no reason for it not to be accurate.

I was told to calibrate the watch, which is to walk or run outside in a clear open space for at least 20 minutes with the phone & watch together. I presume this means to let the watch have access to the phone's GPS, so I'm guessing not to use a 3rd party app thats using my location.
 
I would guess the second walk was more accurate. It may have calibrated itself over the two walks. If you don't see a 'zeroing' in on the metrics over the next couple walks I'd call Apple.
 
Thinking about it, I had a strange issue the other day too. After a run I got an award for most calories burned during a run even though it wasn't one of my longer runs nor was the pace particularly fast. I'm beginning to think it guesses more than I first thought.
 
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